Lately, I’ve been so adventurous! I generally browse websites and magazines, look at the pretty pictures, get inspired, and do nothing with that inspiration. Without thought, I guess I decided to start taking action because I realized I’ve been doing a lot more reviews lately.

Review – Often I end up on YouTube for more time than I care to admit watching hair and makeup tutorials. My favorites are the eyeshadow how-tos and they all start out by applying a primer. I finally took action! I’m a mostly-Mac eyeshadow kinda girl, so on a recent visit to the Mac counter, I decided to pick up a Paint Pot. Paint Pots come in a variety of colors to help set your eyeshadow so that it does not settle into the crease of your lids by the end of the day. It goes on creamy, but dries similar to foundation so that eyeshadow glides easily over it. It really locks in the shadow and showcases it more true to color. The day I attempted the Paint Pot, I ran home to check my shadow in the mirror at the end of the day and it was just as fresh as I had applied it in the morning. No shiny creasy color. I absolutely love this product and wish I had attempted it long ago! If you’ve tried this product, please comment to let us know what you think.

What I Love

If you want to go for a smokey eye, try a Paint Pot in a dark color to serve as a base for the shadow.

For everyday looks, I went for a skintone color to help set my shadow. The color that best matches my skin tone is Painterly.

Paint Pots are perfect for long wearing true eyeshadow color with no greasy creasies at the end of the day.

Good To Know

Update – This probably should have been common sense due to the cream consistency of this product, but I left the top off and now it is all dried out! The entire product has separated from the edge of the container and is impossible to apply. With that said, I still think this primer is worth purchasing again… lesson learned.

It seems as though the older I get, the more I break out… I thought I’d have outgrown this after my schoolgirl days. Buuuuuut, no!!! I decided it was finally time to switch up my hodgepodge of “drugstore, meets facialist, meets department store” skincare routine. For years, I used Clean & Clear Continuous Control ACNE Cleanser, which kept me clean and clear for nearly a decade, but not so much anymore! I had paired it with Clinique’s Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion, but this yellow moisturizer started to feel a little heavy on my skin.

Finally, I hit the skin care aisle of my local pharmacy and stood there reading bottles of lotions and potions for about half an hour. For my daily cleanser, I picked up Aveeno Positively Radiant Cleanser ($8.99 at Amazon.com). It gets off every bit of makeup, including mascara, without stripping my skin. This is a soap and oil-free cleanser that is gentle enough to use every day, even on sensitive skin. After a couple of uses, I started to get that deep cleaning tingle and my skin has finally cleared up. As the bottle says, it truely does “bring out skin’s natural radiance and even out skin tone and texture. Come to find out, this cleanser was an InStyle magazine editor’s pick for great skin in your 30s and was named an “Allure Best of Beauty” for 2009!

I went to see a dermatologist for the first time recently and she suggested that I use Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer after washing my face. It is literally “dermatologist recommended”! I opted for the SPF 15 formula ($10.99 at Amazon.com) because I am seriously avoiding skin damage (aka – the sun) these days. I am so lucky that I do not have fine lines or crows feet just yet, and I’d like to keep it that way. Cetaphil is a lightweight non-greasy moisturizer that hydrates while protecting your skin from the sun’s harmful rays.

After washing with Aveeno Positively Radiant Cleanser and moisturizing with Cetaphil, my skin feels so clean and my “problem areas” have definitely improved. These skin care products are much more accessible and less expensive than some of the products I was getting from a facialist and department stores… and I can’t believe they work better! In addition to these two products, I exfoliate and use a facial self-tanner two to three times a week.

I’m such a lucky girl. Handbag Heaven contacted me about hosting a giveaway on my site (coming soon) and also offered to send me the handbag of my choice. How cool is that???

Lately, I’ve been turning down the color in my closet for fall, but felt the need to lighten things up a bit (a la Erika Hendrix – right pic). Sometimes, I like to dress up in head-to-toe neutrals, and thought the Tara Accordian Pleat Satchel would be perfect for my pretty in pastel days.

I love the pleats that make up this handbag. I love pleated anything and everything right now. This bag is made of a faux leather material that is far more durable than the real deal. The interior is lined with the Ebisu signature floral printed fabric and the knotted twists on the oversized strap really add a unique touch. The tote contains exactly the compartments I need – a zippered pocket on one side opposite two small open pockets for my lipgloss and cell phone. The handbag is finished with a magnetic snap closure. Handbag Heaven was nice enough to take this pleated tote from my wish list to in my closet! So fun! Love it!

As I said in my Tassi post, there are few things that I rave about, and Shari’s Berries are at the top of that list!!! My sister and I came up with a holiday that we call “Sister Day” (mom’s and dad’s have their day, now we have ours). For sister day and birthdays, we are so lucky because we do not have to put any thought into a gift for each other; all we ever want is Shari’s Berries. They are so yummy. The chocolate is incredible and the strawberries are huge and juicy!!! They have strawberries decorated for almost all occasions and upcoming holidays.

Additionally, because they are a perishable food item, you may order them at the last minute (or pre-order and schedule if you prefer), so your gift recipient will never know that you called this in a couple of days before their birthday! I tell all of my guy friends about it because they are notorious about last minute gifts and I am pretty sure that I have saved a relationship or two. Although this is a perfect last minute gift because they are so yummy and creative, I actually prefer it over any well thought out pre-planned gift. The way to my heart is not through flowers, it’s through chocolate covered strawberries!

Oh, how I love my Tassi… let me count the ways!! I know I’m going to sound like an infomercial on this one, but I can’t help myself. Do you ever find yourself so passionate about something that you start promoting it to anyone that will listen? My latest discovery is something that I got for Christmas and refused to try for 8 months, now I refuse to take it off. The Tassi is a super absorbent double elastic terry cloth hair wrap (your hair sits in the terry cloth between the two pieces of covered elastic) and I would wear in public if it was socially acceptable.

Sometimes I hate being a girl and the time that it takes to get ready. On weekends, I just want to lounge around when I get out of the shower, or let my hair air dry, but I don’t want to lay on my couch with a wet towel on my head? The Tassi is so absorbent and comfy that I have fallen asleep in it a few times without my pillow getting wet. No more bulky towel turbans are necessary. Now I’m so attached that I wear it around the house (more often than I should admit) because it keeps my hair out of my face. I can easily wash my face without my hairline getting wet and don’t have to take the time to put in a ponytail holder. The Tassi is much more comfy than a ponytail holder because you can lean back on your couch without a ponytail sticking out of the back of your head, and its much better on your hair.

Have I covered everything that I love about it? Oh, and they come in a variety of colors. I have teal, which is quite alarming when I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror. I hope Santa puts a white one in my stocking this year. My friends laugh at me and think that I’ve lost it. They’re probably right. Just thought I’d share my discovery with the rest of the world.